Summer carries on for us here in the northern hemisphere and here in Raleigh, it has been a hot summer indeed. We luckily got rain a few times this past week and I was able to savor the moody weather from the 29th floor of my apartment. Summer storms are something else when you are that high up. This past weekend I also decided to switch up my routine a little and I did my weekly planning on the 36th top floor of my apartment which is a mix of a common area and work from home space. The space was so luxurious with the beautiful furniture, 360-degree view windows and the overall quietness. I was able to set my goals for the week in a space that was truly elevated, and that energy came through to my planning as well. It is a new routine that I will be incorporating into not only my weekly planning, but also for all of my planning and goal setting sessions.
Being surrounded by such a beautiful environment challenged me to also elevate my goals as well and that is a lesson worth taking with me wherever I may live. Since I was so inspired by the elevated surroundings from this past weekend, I wanted to do a Curated Weekly post inspired by my recent experience in essence. This week, we will be exploring all things elevated within our style, inspiration, beauty or lifestyle.
BOOKS, SHOPPING, MEDIA, ETC.
I am always looking for ways to elevate my wardrobe and I love to purchase items that I can use for both work and casual, so I was shopping the Banana Republic sale this past week and bought this Carolina Sweater Tank in both the Crystal Sand and Black colors. Currently on sale for $25.97 and with an extra 20% off, this was a great buy and will be a chic top to have on hand.
And while it may be currently summer, I will still purchase things that are “out of season” because they are usually on a good sale. I haven’t had a cold winter since 2019 as we lived in Florida from the years of 2020-2024, so I am slowly building up items for the winter season ahead and was able to get these cashmere lined Mary Leather & Suede Gloves from Banana Republic as well. They only have small sizes left for these, but if you are in the market for leather gloves then they also had these Nancy Leather Glovers in brown and black.
If you are a candle lover like I am, then you probably also love a match striker as well. I light all of my candles with matches, and I love keeping a few beautiful match strikers around the house instead leaving out match boxes. If you are looking to elevate your candle experience with a chic match striker, then look into this Craighill Match Striker from Madewell. For me, gold accents are a timeless, elevated color to keep around the house in decor items, so this item caught my attention immediately as an elevated piece for any home.
When trying to elevate a living space, it’s good to keep things simple in larger pieces such as the sofa, chairs, etc. but then to bring an elevated statement piece to create a chic visual interest. I love this CosmoLiving Brielle Accent Table in Onyx Marble on Amazon to accomplish that style. Not only is the shape interesting, but the marble pattern really elevates it into a statement of elevated elegance as well.
Another idea to elevate your living space is to bring in coasters to use for drinks on the tables. I really liked these Marble Style Ceramic Coasters. At a price of only $12.55, they are also a great budget buy to elevate your space with as well.
Statement earrings are a great way to elevate an outfit for any occasion and statement earrings are my go-to accessory of choice. I do invest in these more than other accessories in general although I do keep a selection of other items. I particularly like the gold statement earrings and these POSH earrings from Nola Amsterdam are very chic and only cost $36.00. They also have many other beautiful pieces as well, so be sure to check their entire site for great styles.
One thing that I noticed in the common area/workspace of my apartment building is that they had decorated the space with small visual interest pieces throughout. I saw these Marble Links at Target and immediately thought about that beautiful space as they had marble links on a few of the tables and I thought it looked so chic. Again, at only $25 for this set, it proves that you do not need to break the bank to incorporate good style into your life.
Since we are delving into elevating our surroundings this week, I wanted to pick out some elevated coffee table books that not only look great on the outside as a statement piece, but also has some beautiful inspiration inside as well. To start off, The Finer Things: Timeless Furniture, Textiles, and Details is a staple in elevated coffee table books. The beautiful design on the outside is beautiful enough to display anywhere, but the inspiration on the inside is worth the read too. Described as, quality matters. Just as a home’s foundation should be built to stand the test of time, so, too, should the furniture, objects, and elements of our rooms speak to an enduring sense of beauty and comfort. They should outlast trends and our loving day-to-day use. But how does one recognize quality and judge whether something is well made? Christiane Lemieux set out to answer this question by interviewing the world’s greatest experts. Weaving together the insights and guidance of dozens of wallpaper and paint specialists, textile fabricators, accessories artisans, and interior designers, Lemieux has curated an unparalleled education in recognizing the hallmarks of timeless, heirloom-quality pieces. Hundreds of elegant home interiors—both iconic examples from the past and stunning residences today–represent the range of luxurious and customized environments that can be created with fine décor.
Another elevated book to consider is the Live Beautiful coffee table book. Another beautiful addition that is chic on the outside and can be displayed anywhere with its simple color scheme and cover. This one too is full of beautiful details that you can incorporate into your decorating style. Described as, beautiful design isn’t just pleasant to look at; it improves the quality of our lives. In Live Beautiful, Athena Calderone taps into her international network of interior decorators, fashion designers, and tastemakers to reveal how carefully crafted interiors come together. She also opens the doors to two of her own residences.
If you want to add some fashion style books to elevate your space, this Dior: The Legendary 30 Avenue Montaigne coffee table book is an elevated selection to add to the list. A beautiful book designed in the iconic Dior building in Paris on the outside, and beautiful iconic designs of Dior on the inside. A book that is described as, celebrating 30, avenue Montaigne, this sophisticated volume—published on the occasion of the House’s 75th anniversary in 2022—presents the public and unseen life of the iconic headquarters.
Located in the heart of Paris’s posh Triangle d’Or, 30, avenue Montaigne has been linked to the House of Dior’s story since 1946. Christian Dior chose this hôtel particulier to establish his couture house and present his collections, including the inaugural 1947 fashion show that marked the New Look era’s debut. Since then, Christian Dior and his successors—from Yves Saint Laurent to Maria Grazia Chiuri—have designed and created all the House’s collections here. 30, avenue Montaigne is where the ateliers are still based, making it a fabled address of Parisian haute couture. With emblematic images of Christian Dior working in his design studio, fitting sessions, and backstage fashion shows; archival documents; and a breathtaking portfolio of Dior creations, readers will discover 30, avenue Montaigne’s spirit throughout the decades while heralding its future.
And if you’re looking for a style icon for inspiration, then look no further than CBK: Carolyn Bessette Kennedy: A Life in Fashion. A lady with timeless style and ultimate chic, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy was the peak of her time for these things. The book is described as, featuring spectacular photography and design, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy: A Life in Fashion gathers the greats in the fashion world to speak of her timeless style and presents never-before-published personal anecdotes from friends and family. Long blonde hair, an iconic red lip, and effortless style—all signatures of fashion icon Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. Carolyn used fashion as her medium. She hadn’t found her voice yet in front of the camera as Mrs. Kennedy, so she let her fashion speak to the world for her.
To elevate our life we must first elevate our mindsets and this video from Anna Bey on 10 Things That Tell You Have Class is a good watch for inspiration on how to be elegant in manner.
If you are looking to elevate your home, then tune in to this video from Ashley Childers as she gives you some design tips to elevate your home to one of comfort and sophistication.
Body language is such an important factor in carrying ourselves with confidence and elegance. It’s not only our style that tells our story, but also our posture and gestures that can elevate us to a more elegant way of moving through the world. That is why I also selected this video on 9 elegant gestures to look more feminine and classier.
And if you’re looking for a modern-day icon for some inspiration, watch this video on Sofia Richie aesthetic: elegant & luxurious outfit ideas, lifestyle inspo, etc. It’s fun to watch an “everyday person” be inspired by Sofia and try to elevate her life based on this elegant iconic woman which is so relatable.
articles of interest
Since we are inspired to elevate this week, let’s start this week’s articles with a post from the EveryGirl, 12 Little Luxuries That’ll Elevate Any Average Weekday
When thinking about elevating your life, you can’t go wrong with some Tonya Leigh, and her podcast episode of How to Romanticize Your Life was a great listen for inspiration.
It’s a worthwhile pursuit to not only be elegant while out in public, but also stay elegant while we are at home. That is why I enjoyed this article from Lily Cherie, How to Look Elegant at Home.
If you are looking to elevate your style, here is an article on 7 Wardrobe Investments That Are Worth Every Penny by Lisa Fonde.
This article from Glamour, This Hair Tuck Hack Is the Easiest Way to Elevate a Simple Style is a great read if you are interested in elevating simple, chic style like I am.
Elevating our sleep is not only good for our outer looks, but for our overall health as well, and if you are looking to elevate your sleep with some new sheets, then here is an article form Toan & Country for The 9 Best Sateen Sheets For a Luxurious Sleep Year-Round. Sateen sheets are my favorite with their cool, silky texture, so be sure to check this one out.
And to end this week’s curated post, here is an article to help you elevate your personal care, How to Always Look Put Together: Personal Care form the blog The Fine Refine. A great article with tips on how to look elegant and expensive when it comes to your personal care habits.
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